Pump



March 6, 1934. B. w. TRAYLOR Er AL PUMP 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Aug. 6,1932 Fig 72..; ATTORNEY B. W. TRAYLOR ET AL March 6, 1934.

PUMP

Filed Aug. 6', 1932 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORS Bruce W Tray/or and BySami/e/ W Tray/or .//r

Ef' l ATTORNE? March 6, v1934. B. w. TRAYLOR Er AL PUMP Filed Aug. 6,1952 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Mw. Saw Y www, w .mw/ m R E 0 vm. N /Wn Iw/ A,

f m @www Patented Mar. 6, 1934 PUIVIP Bruce W. Traylor and Samuel W.Traylor, Jr.,

Allentown, Pa., assignors to 'Eraylor Engineering & ManufacturingCompany, a company of Delaware Application August 6, 1932, Serial No.627,?88

17 Claims.

This invention relates to pumps of the type in which liquid being pumpedis forced from a working chamber by high pressure motive fluid, such asgas or air under high pressure, in contact with the upper surface of theliquid in the chamber and the Working chamber when substantially emptiedis again filled by exhausting the high pressure motive fluid from theupper part of the Working chamber and admitting another charge ofVliquid le under hydrostatic or other pressure.

Pumps of this type may be operated in single or multiple stages and areparticularly adapted for use in oil fields where dry natural gasexisting in connection with the oil can be utilized to provide the highpressure fluid. These gases may absorb oils and greases of slidingbearings thus causing rapid wear, excessive friction and even locking ofmoving parts against movement. It is therefore desirable to provideoperating mechanism in which such deleterious effects are avoided asmuch as possible, as by using structure which requires no lubrication.Of course, when compressed air is used., such difficulties areminimized. `among the various diiculties encounteredV in conneetion withsuch pumps, one of the most important is that of obtaining reliableoperation of the valves controlling the admission and exhaust of the l.ot-ive fluid with reference to the working chamber. lt has also beendifficult in pumps of this character heretofore in use toprevent passageof the motive fluid out of the bottom of the working chamber andsubsequent emulsication of the liquid forced from said chamber.

An important object of the invention is to provide an improved pump ofthe'character to which reference has been made; It is also an importantobject of the invention to provide improved means for operating thecontrol valves for the motive fluid. Another object is to provide meansfor preventing passage of motive fluid out of the bottom of the workingchamber with the liquid being pumped.

it is also an object of the invention to provide means for limiting boththe downward and 'the upward movement of the surface of the liquid inthe working chambers. Another object is to provide means for preventing'undue shock at the ends of the valve shifting movements of the valve nq.operating means.

' iroved means for assisting the valve operating in finishing the valveshifting operations for hol ng the valves in positions to kwhich theyed. @ther objects relate to features of construction of various parts,connectionsv A further object is to providev (ci. 10am-24s) itherebetween and the functions performed thereby.

According to a preferred embodiment of this invention, a plurality ofunits are arranged vcrtically in a weil and the liquid, oil for example,0^ is admitted under hydrostatic pressure, dependent upon the height ofoil in the well, tothe lowermost unit through a shield or gas trapadapted to prevent entrance of the gas which may pass upwardly in thecasing outside of the pumping apparatus. From the shield the liquidpasses through a foot valve into a tube enclosing the working chamber ofthe lower unit and communicating with the lower end of such chamber.Connected with the upper ends of both the tube and the working chambertherein is a valve block having one or more ducts or passages connectingthe space around the working chamber with the upper side of the block tosupply liquid to the next higher unit and having at its interior valvemeans connected with the upper end of the working chamber, a motivefluid supply duct, and a motive fluid exhaust duct. Preferably the valvemeans includes an inlet valve and an outlet valve operated by areciprocataole member or stem which in its' upward movement opens theinlet valve and closes the exhaust 'valve and in its downward movementcloses the inlet valve and opens the exhaust valve, in the first casestarting the pumping movement or forcing of the liquid out of theworking chamber and in the second case releasing the pressure in theupper part of the chamber and permitting the entrance into the chamberof a fresh supply of liquid under pressure. Y

For the lower unit the pressure under which liquid is supplied is due tothe height of liquid in the welvbut for the next higher unit may be dueto the pressure exerted from the bottom unit as liquid is forcedtherefrom.

The present invention involves use of the pressure of the incoming fluidto lift the valve stem to start expulsion of the liquid and use of thepressure of the motive fluid to depress the valve stern to exhaust themotive fluid and admit a fresh supply of liquid. Preferably suchmovement of the valve stem is obtained by means of a shuttle deviceconnected at its upper end with the valve stem and fitting closely inthe corresponding chamber so as to slide therein while preventing thepassage of the vliquid around the shuttle device. This shuttle device orvalve operating device is constructed so as to permit the passage ofliquid therethrough from end to end A and is provided adjacent to itsends with inwardly facing valve seats'with which cooperate oat 110 'nsV,controlled valves preferably formed as the opposite ends of a shuttlefloat. When the shuttle iloat is raised to the upper end of the valveoperating member it closes the upper end thereof and the pressure of therising liquid raises the valve operating device and shifts the valves toadmit the motive fluid and force the liquid out of the chamber and upthrough a check valve to the next higher unit which is controlled in thesame way. When the shuttle float reaches the lower valve seat it closesthe opening therethrough and the motive fluid acts to depress theshuttle device and cause exhaust of motive uid from the working chamber.

It will also be seen that the shuttle device and the shuttle floattherein serve to prevent the motive fluid from passing out of the lowerend of the working chamber and the liquid from passing out of the upperend of the chamber.

Preferably the closing of the inlet and exhaust valves controlling themotive fluid is assisted by a toggle device comprising two rigid armsinterposed between a longitudinally movable valve controlling membersuch as a valve stem f and two springs parallel to said member, each armhaving knife edges at its ends and the cooperating parts having notchesto receive said edges while permitting free pivotal movement of the saidarms. This toggle device also tends to hold the valves in the positionsto which they are shifted by the valve operating means. Preferablyprovision is also made of means for counterbalancing the weight of theshuttle device containing the shuttle float and of parts connectedtherewith and of means for cushioning the movement of the shuttledevice, for example by means having a dash pot action.

Other objects and advantages will appear upon consideration of thefollowing description and of the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1is a diagrammatic view illustrating a pumping system including two unitsor stages;

Figs. 2 and 3 are vertical sections, somewhat diagrammatic, of the lowerand upper ends of the lower unit indicated at A and B, respectively, onFig. 1;

Figs. 4 and 5 are corresponding views of the lower and upper ends of theupper unit, indicated at C and D, respectively, of Fig. l;

Fig. 6 is a vertical section including both upper and lower ends of apump unit;

Fig. 7 is a vertical section of the lower end of a pump unit showingdetails of construction;

Fig. 8 is a section of a valve block taken at a level corresponding tothat indicated by the line 8-8 on Fig. 5;

Fig. 9 is a section of a valve block taken at a level corresponding tothat indicated by the line 9 9 on Fig. 5;

Fig. 10 is a top plan view of a device for holding a split collaragainst rotation; and

Fig. 11 is a top plan view of the split collar.

1n the drawings there is illustrated pumping apparatus including a lowerunit 15 and immediately above the same an upper unit 16 each of whichincludes an outer casing 17 connected at its upper end with a valveblock 18, an inner casing constituting a working chamber 19 of smallerdiameter than the casing 17 so as to prf- `fide an annular flow passage20 through which liquid is forced upwardly from the unit and through oneor more passages 21 in the valve block to a chamber 22 at the topthereof. From the chamber 22 the liquid is forced past a check valve 22ainto a pipe 22bwnich may lead to the surface of the ground if a singlestage be used or to the next higher unit if the apparatus be of themultistage type. The oil is forced into the lower unit by hydrostaticpressure due to the height of the oil in the well.

The gas may be prevented from entering the lower unit by providing theouter casing 17 thereof with a downwardly extending gas shield 23 ortrap which may include an outer casing 24 forming an extension of theouter casing 17 of the lower pump unit and being closed at its lower endby a bottom 25, and an inner tubular portion 26 of smaller diametersuspended from an annular flange 27 projecting inwardly from the outercasing 24 and sealing the upper end of the annular passage 28surrounding said portion 26. Just below the flange 27 the outer casing24 is provided with ports or inlets 29. The inner tubular portion 26 isspaced above the bottom of the outer casing so that oil entering throughone or more ports or inlets 29 will flow downwardly through the annularpassage 28, around the lower edge of the inner tubular portion 26 andupwardly to the lower pump unit through a foot valve 3G. As here shownthe foot valve is in the form of a disc adapted to close on opening 32surrounded by a valve seat 33 at the inner edge of an annular member 34connected at its outer edge with the outer casing 17. Preferably thevalve is guided by means of a spindle or stem 31 extending downwardlytherefrom through a suitable opening in the center of a xed spider 36,the spindle being provided below the spider with a suitable stop 37 tolimit the upward Inovement of the valve.

The working chamber 19 is closed at its lower end and the oil in theannular space 20 passes into the working chamber through one or moreinlet ports or openings 38 in the circumferential wall of the chamber.At its top the working chamber 19 communicates with vertical passage 39in the lower end of the corresponding valve block 18, and this passageor chamber 39 is connected at times with a motive fluid supply line ortube 39a to cause liquid to be forced out of the working chamber 19 andat other times with a motive fluid exhaust line or tube 4G to permitliquid under pressure to enter the working chamber. The flow of theoperating medium or motive fluid into and out of the Working chamber giscontrolled by suitable valve means, of which an advantageous form isdisclosed.

An inlet passage 41 for the motive uid extends from the supply line 29athrough the block to a chamber 41a between two vertically alignedupwardly facing valve seats 42, and a discharge or exhaust passage 43extending from a connection with the exhaust line 4() to a chamber 44between downwardly facing valve seats 45 below and in alignment with theupper valve seats 42.

The upper chamber 41a is connected through the upper of the valve seats42 with a chamber 46 and is connected with the lower chamber 44 by apassage 47 in alignment therewith; the lower chamber 44 is connectedwith the upper end oi the passage 39; and the chamber 46, the passage 47and the chamber 39 are connected by short transverse passages 48, 49,and 5G, respectively, with a vertical passage 51, thus assuring equalpressure above, between and below the upper and lower pairs of valveseats.

To cooperate with the upper valve seats 42, provision is made of adouble inlet valve 52 consisting of two single valves or heads 53connected so as to move together to and from the correspending valveseats. A corresponding double outlet valve 54 comprising individualvalves or heads 55 is provided to cooperate with the lower pair of valveseats 45. The arrangement is such that when the inlet valve is moved toclosed position the outlet valve will be opened and vice versa.

In the illustrated embodiment of the valve means for controlling themotive fluid, the pressure receiving face of the lower head of thedouble exhaust or outlet valve 54 and the pressure receiving face of theupper head are of substantially the same area so that the double ex`haust valve as a whole may be said to be balanced. When the valve,including the inlet and outlet valves, is in the position with theoutlet valve seated, the liquid is being forced or pumped from theworking chamber and therefore this position of the valve is hereinafterreferred to as the pumping position. Similarly the pressure receivingarea of the lower head of the inlet pair and the pressure receiving areaof the upper inlet head are substantially the same and the double inletvalve may be said to be balanced. As the valve when in the position withthe inlet valve seated permits the liquid being pumped to flow into theworking chamber, this position of the valve is hereinafter referred toas the filling position. It will be seen that the valve as a whole isbalanced both as to working and back pres-'- sures and that nosubstantial difficulty is met in operating it at any time.

As illustrated, the intake and exhaust valves 52V and 54 are slidablymounted on a reduced portion 56 of a valve stem 57 and may be lifted toclose the exhaust valve by engagement of the lower end of the exhaustvalve with a shoulder 58 at the lower end of the reduced portion. Withthis arrangement the weight to be sustained by the exhaust valve is notvery great and the overbalancing of the lower head of the exhaust valveover the upper head need not be very large. The intake and exhaustvalves may be formed as parts of a single sleeve.

The movement of the valves is very small and, as it would beimpracticable to provide valve shifting devices having such a slightmovement, provision is made for lost motion connection between thevalves and the valve stem or spindle. To this end, the enlargement orhead 59 at the upper end of the reduced portion of the valve stem isspaced from the shoulder 58 a distance in excess of the length of thevalve sleeve. To guide the upper end of the valve stem or spindle, thehead 59 may have a sliding t in a chamber 60 in a plug 6l which closesan opening between the chamber 22a and chamber 46.

In order to assure proper seating of the intake and exhaust valves 52and 54 and maintenance of such seating until the valve operating meansacts to shift the valves, provision may be made of means for holding theshoulder 58 of the valve stem against the lower end of the exhaust valveuntil the valve stem is depressed to open the exhaust valve and forholding the head 59 down against the upper end of the inlet valve untilthe valve stem is raised to open the inlet or intake valve.

Preferably this result is obtained by use of a toggle'device includingthe rigid arms 62 of which the inner ends engage the valve stem 57 atopposite sides and the outer ends engage yielding members 63 which maybe in the form of leaf springs substantially parallel to the spindle andxedly supported at points equally distant from their points ofengagementwith the arms 62.

To avoid sliding contact and consequent friction and wear, the togglearms are preferably provided at their ends with knife edges which areseated in suitable notches formed in the spindle 57 and the springs 63.Preferably the leaf springs 63 are secured at their upper ends whichproject into grooves at the inside of an annular flange 64 projectingdownwardly from the valve block, which flange may be that to which thecasing 19 of the working chamber is attached. 'I'he ends of the springsare clamped in the grooves by a member 65 of flat material in thegeneral form of an inverted U and held in position in any suitablemanner. The horizontal portion of the member 65 receives the spindle 57therethrough and may have one or more openings 66 to permit passage ofthe motive fluid in addition to that passing around the side edges ofthe flat portion through openings between the same and inner surface ofthe flange 64. Preferably, as shown in Fig. 6, the member 65 is securedin place by means of a screw 65a screwed into the flange 64.

According to the present invention, the means for raising and loweringthe valve stem 57 is positive in its action thus assuring propershifting of the valve means controlling the admission o-f motive fluidto the working chamber and the exhaust or venting of the motive fluid.The positive action referred to may be obtained by utilizing thepressure of the incoming fluid to close the motive fluid exhaust andopen the supply when the surface of the liquid reaches a predeterminedupper limit, and by utilizing the pressure of the motive fluid to closethe supply or intake valve and open the exhaust valve when the surfaceof the liquid sinks to a predetermined level.

Preferably the power for actuating the valves controlling the action ofthe motive iluid is provided in the following manner, Mounted in thecasing of the Working chamber 19 are an upper head or piston 67 and alower head or piston 68, each provided with a peripheral sealing strip69 of suitable material, having a cylindrical portion surrounding aperipheral flange of the head and having an inturned annular portionclamped between the outer face of the flange and a clamping ring 70.Also the inner edge of the cylindrical portion of each strip is taperedto a thin edge at'the surface in contact with the inner surface of thechamber 19, so that increase of pressure at the inner side will tend toimprove the seal.

The upper head 67 has a large central passage 71 extending axiallythrough the hea'd and terminating at its lower end in a downwardlyfacing valve seat 72. The lower head 68 is provided in a similar mannerwith an upwardly facing valve seat 73 at the upper end of an axialpassage 74. Preferably, however, the lower end of the passage 74 isclosed by an end 75 and communication between the passage 74 and theoutside of the head below its seal is provided by one or more openingsor ports 76. As will be brought out more clearly hereinafter, the heads67 and 68 must be connected so that either one may be drawn along by theother. Preferably this connection is made by a tube 77 enclosing theinner ends of said heads and engaging the sides of said peripheralflanges and the tube is provided'near its lower end with one or moreports 78 so that liquid under pressure may enter the annular spacebetween this tube and the casing of the Working chamber 19 and act onthe sealing strips 69 t0 tighten the seal.

Enclosed in the tube 77 between the two valve seats 72` and 73 is ashuttle float 79, so called because it moves up and down with thesurface of the liquid during the pumping operation. The ends 80 and 8lof the float are so shaped as to cooperate with the Valve seats 72 and73, respectively, and serve as separate float-controlled valves.Obviously if the shuttle float be in the lower part of tube 77, rise ofliquid in the tube due to inward ow through ports 38 and 76 would raisethe shuttle float until its upper end 80 engaged the valve seat 72 andclosed the passage 7l through the upper head, whereupon the shuttledevice including the two heads would be raised by the pressure of theinflowing liquid. On the other hand, if the motive fluid be introducedat the upper end of the working chamber, the float together with theupper surface of the liquid will be forced down until the lower end 81of the shuttle float engages the lower valve seat 73, whereupon theshuttle device will be moved downwardly by the high pressure motivefluid.

Such movements of the shuttle device are utilized for operating thevalve stem 55 by means of a suitable connection which may include amember or bar 82 extending across the passage 7l in the upper head 67and having at the upper side thereof an upwardly facing cylindrical cup83, a circular plate or disc 84 fixed on the lower end of the valve stem57 and tting in said cup and a sleeve or bushing 85 having a partoccupying the annular space above the disc and a ange overlying theupper edge or rim of the cup. The bushing may be secured tov the cup inany suitable manner. For reasons to be brought out hereinafter thespacing of the lower end of the bushing from the bottom of the cup issuch as to provide for lost motion of the member 84 between the bushingand cup.

Through this connection the valves may be shifted by the shuttle device.It will be evident that the upper and lower limits of movement of thesurface of the liquid in the working charnber are determined veryclosely by the normal positions of the upper and lower heads which movevery slightly.

In view of the weight of the shuttle device and the parts supported bythe top thereof it is desirable to provide means for counterbalancingtheir weight and thereby preventing pounding at the end of the downwardstroke thereof. To this end a helical compression spring 86 may beinterposed between a disc 86a at the lower side of the lower end 75 ofthe lower head and the lower end 87 of the working chamber.

In addition to providing means for stopping the shuttle device atopposite ends of its stroke thus avoiding subjecting the inlet andoutlet valves and seats to severe stresses, it is also desirable toprovide for a cushioning action in both directions. To this end thelower end 87 is in the form of an inverted cup which together with amember 88 closing its lower end forms a cylinder containing a piston 89attached to the lower end of a piston rod 90, which is attached at itsother end to the lower end 75 of the lower head 68 of the shuttledevice. The piston 89 is provided with a restricted passage 91 so thatwhen it is moved up and down by movement of the shuttle device it willact to cushion the action of the reciprocating parts due to retardationresulting from time taken for liquid in the cylinder to iiow back andforth through the restricted passage 91, the

effect being somewhat similar to that of a dash pot. The cylinder may bekept suitably filled with liquid by a restricted passage 92 extendingthrough the member 88 at the bottom of the cylinder.

The upper of the two pump units is substantially the same as the lowerone just described, except that it receives the liquid through the lowervalve block 18 and check valve 22a instead of the arrangement at thebottom of the lower unit and that parts of the motive fluid duct 39a andthe exhaust duct 40 are connected to the upper block 18a at its upperand lower sides, the block having passages which are really extensionso-f the ducts 39a and 40.

In Figs. l, 2, 3, 4 and 5, the valve blocks are somewhat distorted tomake a clear showing oi' the motive fluid supply and exhaustconnections, the preferred arrangement of certain of the parts beingindicated in Figs. 8 and 9.

The operation of the lower unit, illustrated more particularly in `Figs.2 and 3, is substantially as follows. Assuming that the shuttle devicecontaining the shuttle oat 79 be in its lowermost position with theshuttle iioat resting on the lower valve seat 73, the piston 89 wouldrest on the member or stop 88, the valves 52 and 54 would be in theirFig. 5 positions and the working chamber would be connected with theexhaust line 40. The hydrostatic head in the well would then causeliquid to enter the gas trap through the port or ports 29 near the upperend thereof, and pass downwardly through the annular passage 28 to thebottom of tube 26 and then upwardly through the latter past the checkvalve 30 into the casing 17 of the pumping unit. During this action thegas in the oil passes upwardly at the outside of the gas trap. As theflow continues, the liquid passes through the port 38 into the workingchamber 19 and through the port 76 into the lower head of the shuttledevice which controls the motive fluid valves. The shuttle float 79 islifted from the valve seat 73, as the upper surface of the liquid in theworking chamber rises, and nally comes into contact with upper valveseat 72 thus closing the passage 71 in the upper head 67. The pressureof the liquid then shifts the shuttle device upwardly and after a lostmotion action the shoulder 58 on the valve stem 57 engages the lower endof the exhaust valve 54 and shifts the valves from the Fig. 5 positionstoward the Fig. 3 positions. While the shuttle device lifts the valvestem 57 sufficiently to carry the toggle arms 62 past dead center', itis stopped by engagement of the piston 89 with the upper stop before itcan seat the outlet valve and the final seating is effected by thetoggle device. This 'lnal seating movement is rendered possible by thelost motion connection between the shuttle device and the valve stem 57.

'Ihe intake valve is then open and motive fluid supplied through thesupply line 39a passes into the upper end of the working chamber andforces the liquid in the shuttle device downwardly and out through theports 76 and 38 into the annular passage 20. The foot valve 30 is closedat this time and the liquid is forced upwardly through the annularpassage 20, through the passages 21 in the valve block 18 to the chamber22, and past the check valve 22a into the pipe 220. When, however, theshuttle noat 79 engages the valve seat 73, the flow of liquid from theshuttle device is checked and the shuttle device is vmoved downwardlythereby effecting through its connection with the valve stem 57 adownward shifting of Mil the valves from the positions shown in Fig. 3to the positions shown in Fig. 5, in the same general manner as in theupward shifting.

Where two or more units are used, the units would ordinarily actalternately, the lower unit of each pair supplying liquid to the upperunit during the filling action of the latter and the upper unit forcingliquid upwardly during the filling action of the lower unit. Under somecircumstances the head of liquid in the well might be so great as toforce the liquid upwardly past a plurality of the units.

Preferably the sleeve or bushing 85, used in securing the valve stem 57to the valve operating device including the shuttle float, is split forconvenience in assembly around the valve stem 57. The two parts of thebushing after being brought together around said stem may be held inproper relative positions by dowel pins 95. The portion of the bushingentering the cup 83 is screwthreaded externally to cooperate withinternal screw threads of the cup. The bushing may be held againstunscrewing by suitable means such as a spring ring 96 seated in a groovein the outer surface of the cup and having an end 97 extending radiallyinwardly and serving as a pin to enter aligned holes in the cup andbushing 85. The hole in the split bushing may extend between the twohalves thereof. The spring ring may readily be applied and removed butacts as a very effective means for accomplishing the desired purpose.

Preferably the valve seats 72 and 73 of the heads 67 and 68 of theshuttle device are provided with parts 98 (Fig. 7) of harder metal thanthe rest of the heads and which can be replaced if necessary.

The cushioning means at the lower end of the working chamber 19 may takedifferent forms, a preferred form being shown in Fig. 7. As here shownthe workingchamber is closed by a downwardly facing cylinder 87a whichis screwed into the lower end of the chamber. Integral with the closedtop of the cylinder is an upwardly extending annular" sleeve 100 throughwhich the piston rod passes. Surrounding the piston rod is a sealingring 101 having 4at its lower edge a flange resting on the upper edge ofthe sleeve and clamped thereto by the overhangingV flange of a collar102 screwed over the sleeve 100. In the cylinder 87a is a piston 89ahaving a restricted passage 91a extending therethrough. The piston ispreferably provided with circumferential grooves 103 to provide a betterliquid seal.

As here shown the screw-threaded, reduced lower end of the piston rod 90isscrewed through the piston and is locked in position by means of a nut104 and a lock washer` 105. The lower end of the cylinder 87a ispreferably closed by a member 106 screwed into the same and having anopening 107 to accommodate the downward movement of the nut 104. Themember or block 106 is provided beneath the opening 107 with a cavity108 containing a ball valve 109 and communieating at its bottom with arestricted passage 110, surrounded at its topwith a seat for the valve109. The valve is held in the cavity by a member 111 provided withrestricted passages to retard the passage of fluid. At the lower side ofthe block is a frame 112, closed at its bottom end, surrounded by finemesh 113 toexclude solid material. The arrangement at the top of thecylinder 87a is such as to prevent entrance of solid material from aboveand the arrangement atV the lower end of the cylinder is such as toadmitfluid but to prevent upward movement thereof.

Preferably the shuttle float 79 is constructed with ends 80 and 81 ofhard wear-resisting metal and an intermediate float portion of othermaterial providing sufficient strength with lightness.

It will be evident that the apparatus of the present invention possessesmany advantageous features including reliable and positive actuation ofthe valves, a connection between the valves and the valve operatingmeans in which lost motion connection is provided right at the valves sothat when the lost motion connection is relieved the valves are notsubjected to the weight of the other parts which would tend to move thevalves before the lost motion was taken up in the other direction, andan arrangement of the valves whereby they are balanced against bothworking and back pressures.

It should be understood that various changes may be made in theconstruction and arrangement of parts and that various features may beused without others without departing from the true scope and spirit ofthe invention.

Having thusY described our invention, we claim:

l. In a liquid pump of the character described, a pump chamber, andmotive-fluid-controlling means including an inlet valve and an exhaustvalve for said chamber', and float controlled 105 means operable by thehydraulic pressure of the incoming liquid in said chamber to close saidexhaust valve and open said inlet valve and operable by motive fluidpressure in said chamber to close said inlet valve and open saidexhaustllo Valve' a il' -ifli 2. In a liquid pump of the classdescribed, a pumping chamber for the liquid, valve means controllingmotive fluid admission and venting of said chamber, a float in saidchamber, and 115 means controlled by upward movement of said float torender hydraulic pressure of the entering liquid in said chambereffective to admit the motive fluid and prevent venting thereof and bydownward movement of said float to renderV the motive fluid pressure insaid chamber effective to stop admission of motive fluid to the chamberand vent motive fluid from said chamber.

3. In a liquid pump of the class described, a pumping chamber for theliquid, motive-fluidcontrolling means including a motive fluid inletvalve and a motive fluid exhaust valve, a reciprocatable shuttle devicein said chamber including ends fitting closely in said chamber, inwardlyfacing Vvalve seats in said ends and a float adapted to cooperate witheither one of said seats and prevent flow therethrough thereby renderingthe liquid pressure effective to move the shuttle device in onedirection and the motive fluid pressure effective tomove the shuttledevice in the opposite direction, and a connection between said shuttledevice and vsaid valves whereby movement of the shuttle device in onedirection will cause admission of motive fluid to the chamber andmovement in the opposite direction will cause exhaust of motive fluid.

4. In a liquid pump of the class described, a tubular pumping chamberfor the liquid, valve means operable in one way to admit motive fluidunder pressure to said chamber and in another way to exhaust motivefluid therefrom, and means Y for operating said valve means including areciprocatable shuttle device connected with 'said valve means tooperate the same, said shuttle than said chamber and heads connectedwith the ends of said tube and iitting closely in said chamber, saidheads having openings therethrough and valve seats surrounding saidopenings, and a iloat in said tube adapted to cooperate with either ofsaid seats when brought into engagement therewith by the upward anddownward movement of liquid in the chamber and thereby cause movement ofthe shuttle device in corresponding directions.

5. In a liquid pump of the class described, a tubular pumping chamber,valve means operable in one way to supply motive fluid under pressure tosaid chamber and in another way to exhaust motive fluid therefrom, andmeans for controlling said valve means including a reciprocatable hollowmember connected with said valve means to operate same, saidreciprocatable member fitting tightly in said chamber, and havingopenings in its ends, and oat controlled means for closing the upper endof said reciprocatable member when the liquid level approaches at thetop thereof and for closing the lower end when the liquid levelapproaches the same in its downward movement, thereby causingcorresponding upward and downward movements of said reciprocatablemember.

6. In a liquid pump of the class described, a tubular pumping chamber,valve means operable in one way to supply motive fluid under pressure tosaid chamber and in another way to exhaust motive fluid therefrom, andmeans for controlling said valve means including a reciprocatable hollowmember connected with said valve means to operate the same, saidreciprocatable member fitting slidably in said chamber and havingopenings in its ends, iioat controlled means for causing upward movementof the reciprocating member by closing the upper end of said shuttledevice when the liquid level approaches the same in its upward movement,and for causing downward movement by closing the lower end when theliquid level approaches the same in its downward movement, and means forretarding the speed of movement of said reciprocatable member in bothdirections.

7. In a liquid pump of the class described, a tubular pumping chamber,valve means operable in one way to supply motive iiuid under pressure tosaid chamber and another way to exhaust motive fluid therefrom, andmeans for controlling said valve means including a hollow shuttle memberconnected with said valve means to operate the same, said shuttle memberfitting slidably in said chamber, and iioat controlled means for raisingsaid shuttle member by closing the upper end of said shuttle member whenthe liquid level approaches the same in its upward movement and fordepressing said hollow member by closing its lower end when the liquidlevel approaches the same in its downward movement, and means tocounteract the effect of the normal downward pressure including that dueto the weight of the shuttle device.

8; In a liquid pump of the character described, a pump chamber, motiveuid controlling means including an inlet valve and an exhaust valve forsaid chamber, a shuttle device reciprocatable in said chamber includingends fitting closely in said chamber and having openings therethrough,inwardly facing valve seats, a iioat-controlled valve to close the uppervalve when the liquid reaches a predetermined upper level therebycausing upward movement of the shuttle device by liquid pressure and afloat-controlled valve to cooperate with the lower valve seat when theliquid sinks to a predetermined lower level thereby causing downwardmovement of the shuttle device by the pressure of said fluid, and aconnection between said shuttle device and said valves whereby liftingof the shuttle device will cause admission of motive fluid to thechamber and depression of the shuttle device will cause exhaust ofmotive fluid.

9. In a liquid pump of the class described, a working chamber,motive-fluid-controlling means including valve means for admittingmotive fluid to or exhausting it from said chamber, and means forcontrolling said valve means including a reciprocating member movable inone direction to admit motive fluid and maintain such condition, and inthe other direction to exhaust motive fluid and maintain such conditionand toggle means including two rigid arms with their inner endscooperating with the reciprocatable member at o-pposite sides, leafsprings parallel to said reciprocatable member and engaging the outerends of said arms, and fixed holding means acting on said leaf springsat equal distances from Ithe points of engagement of the springs withthe arms.

l0. In a liquid pump of the class described, a working chamber, andmotive-fluid-controlling means including an inlet valve and an exhaustvalve for said chamber, and means for controlling said valves includinga reciprocatable member movable in one direction to open said inletvalve and close said exhaust valve and hold them in such condition andin the other direction to close said inlet valve and open said exhaustvalve and hold them in such condition, and toggle means including tworigid arms cooperating at their ends with the reciprocatable member atopposite sides thereof, leaf springs parallel to said reciprocatablemember and engaging the outer ends of said arms and fixed holding meansacting on said arms at substantially equal distances from the points ofengagement with the arms, said arms having knife edges at their ends andsaid reciprocatable member and said springs having notches to receivesaid knife edges.

11. In a liquid pump of the class described, a working chamber; valvemeans operable in one way to supply motive iiuid to said chamber andanother Way to exhaust it therefrom; means for controlling said valvesincluding a hollow shuttle member connected with said valve means tooperate the same and fitting slidably in said chamber and floatcontrolled means for closing the upper end of the shuttle member tocause lifting thereof by liquid pressure when the liquid rises to apredetermined height and for closing the lower end of the shuttle memberto cause depression thereof by the motive fluid when the liquid sinks toa predetermined level; and means to counterbalance downward pressureincluding that due to the weight of the shuttle member.

12. In a liquid pump of the class described, a working chamber; valvemeans operable in one way to supply motive uid to said chamber andanother way to exhaust it therefrom; means for controlling said valvesincluding a hollow shuttle member connected with said valve means tooperate the same and fitting slidably in said chamber and floatcontrolled means for closing the upper end of the shuttle member tocause lifting thereof by liquid pressure when the liquid rises to apredetermined height and for closing the lower end of the shuttle,member to cause de pression thereof by the motive fluidV when theliquid sinks to a predetermined level; and shuttle member stopping meanshaving a dash pot action.

13. In a liquid pump of the class described, a working chamber; Valvemeans operable in one way to supply motive fluid to said chamber andanother way to exhaust it therefrom; means for controlling said valvesincluding a hollow shuttle member connected with said valve means tooperate the same and fitting slidably in said chamber and oat controlledmeans for closing the upper end of the shuttle member to cause liftingthereof by liquid pressure when the liquid rises to a predeterminedheight and for closing the lower end of the shuttle member to causedownward movement thereof by the motive fluid when the liquid sinks to apredetermined level; a piston rod xed to the shuttle member andextending downwardly therefrom, a fixed cylinder having a lower headwith a restrictedopening therethrough to permit slow movement of theliquid into and out of the cylinder and an upper head through which thepiston rod passes, and a piston in said cylinder connected to saidpiston rod and having a restricted passage from the top to the bottomthereof to produce a dashpot action.

le. In a liquid pump of the class described, a working chamber,motive-fluid-controlled means including an inlet valve and an exhaustvalve, two pistons in said chamber connected together to enable eitherone to pull the other and having valve seats facing each other, theupper piston being connected with said valves to operate the same, lioatcontrolled means cooperating with the upper valve seat when the liquidrises to a predetermined level and causing lifting or" the upper pistonby the liquid and cooperating with the lower valve seat when the liquidsinks to a predetermined level and causing depression of the lowerpiston, and means operated by the upper piston to operate said inletvalve and said exhaust valve.

15. ln a pump ci the character described, a substantially balanced valveassembly movable as a unit and comprising a double intake Valve havingheads facing in the same direction and a double exhaust valve having twoheads facing in a direction opposite to that referred to for the intakevalve heads, a motive uid supply chamber having discharge openingssurrounded by valve seats to cooperate with the heads of the intakevalve, a motive fluid exhaust chamber having intake openings surroundedby valve seats arranged to cooperate with the heads of the exhaustvalve, and operating means for the valve assembly including areciprocating valve stem extending through the valve assembly with asliding Iit, stops on the valve stem at opposite ends of the valveassembly and spaced apart to provide a lost motion connection betweenthe valve stem and the valve assembly, and means in engagement with thevalve stem to aid in completing its stroke in both directions.

16. In a pump of the character described, motive-iluid-contrclling meansincluding aligned intake and exhaust valves, a reciprocating valvestemhaving a lost motion connection with the valves whereby said stemmay be utilized to move said valves a shorter distance than the strokeof said valve stem, a reciprocating member to actuate said valve stem,said reciprocating member having an end adjacent to an end of the valvestern, a lost motion connection between said ends to enable advancementof the stem after stopping of the reciprocating member, and meansrendered elective by the valve stem to complete the throw of the valvestem in either direction and eiTect the seating of the Valves.

17. In a pump 0I" the character described, a working chamber,motive-fluid-controlling means including aligned intake and exhaustvalves for said chamber and corresponding valve seats, a reciprocatingvalve stem having a lost motion connection with the valves to providefor a slight movement of the valves away from their seats, a valve stemactuator in said chamber means for moving the valve stem actuator in onedirection by motive uid pressure in the chamber and in the otherdirection by liquid pressure in the chamber, stopping means for saidvalve stem actuator to limit its stroke to a length less than thatnecessary to seat the valves, a lost motion connection between the valvestem actuator and the valve stem so that the latter may have a longervstroke than the former and seat the valves, and means rendered effectiveby the movement of the valve stem in either direction to complete itsstrokes and seat the valves.

BRUCE W. TRAYLOR. SAMUEL W. TRAY'LOR, JR.

